How to Finance Commercial Kitchen Equipment in Australia
- Three options through Snowmaster: SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy for maximum flexibility; Geared Finance for straightforward equipment finance with low monthly repayments; Shift Payments for buy-now-pay-later over 20 payments.
- SilverChef is the standout for new operators: Rent-Try-Buy lets you use the equipment while you decide whether to buy — with a 75% rebate on rental payments if you purchase. Approval up to $65,000 in under 10 minutes.
- Lease-to-Keep for larger fit-outs: SilverChef’s Lease-to-Keep spreads the cost of equipment $10,000+ over four years, with ownership at the end of term.
- Cashflow is the primary reason to finance: A full restaurant kitchen fit-out can run $50,000–$150,000 in equipment alone. Finance lets you preserve working capital for the first months of trading when it matters most.
- Tax considerations: Equipment finance payments are generally tax-deductible as a business expense. Speak with your accountant about the most advantageous structure for your business.
A full commercial kitchen fit-out is one of the largest upfront costs a hospitality business faces. Equipment alone — cooking line, refrigeration, dishwasher, benches, food prep — routinely runs to $50,000–$150,000 for a new restaurant or café. Paying for it all upfront drains the working capital you need to get through your first months of trading, buy stock, pay staff and cover the unexpected costs that every new venue encounters.
Finance lets you get the equipment you need now and spread the cost over time, preserving cashflow for the things that keep your business running. Snowmaster offers three finance options through trusted partners — each suited to different business situations and cash positions. Here is how each one works and which is right for you.
SilverChef — Rent-Try-Buy and Lease-to-Keep
SilverChef is the world’s only equipment finance company dedicated exclusively to the hospitality industry. Established in 1986, they have invested more than $1 billion into hospitality businesses across Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and have helped over 50,000 customers finance the equipment they need. Snowmaster and SilverChef have financed more than 850 customers together — over $50 million in commercial kitchen equipment.
SilverChef offers two distinct products: Rent-Try-Buy for businesses that want flexibility, and Lease-to-Keep for larger purchases where ownership is the goal from day one.
Rent-Try-Buy
- Rent equipment for a minimum 12-month term with low weekly payments calculated on the equipment value
- During your term: upgrade to a bigger model at any time, or purchase outright and receive a 75% rebate on all net rental payments made to date
- After your term: keep renting at a reduced rate, purchase, upgrade, or return the equipment
- Work towards ownership gradually with SilverChef’s Easy Own product
- Rent-Try-Buy payments are 100% tax-deductible as an operating expense
- Approval up to $65,000 in as little as 10 minutes — bring photo ID, ABN and proof of business address
- Higher amounts approved subject to additional checks
- Best for: New operators, businesses trialling new equipment types, anyone who wants to keep options open
Lease-to-Keep
- Designed for equipment purchases of $10,000 and over
- Monthly lease payments spread over four to five years
- Equipment is yours at the end of the term — simple, straightforward path to ownership
- Suits established businesses fitting out a full kitchen or replacing major equipment
- Payments are predictable and fixed — easier for cashflow forecasting
- SilverChef can finance complete fit-outs including custom stainless steel fixtures
- Best for: Established operators, full kitchen fit-outs, high-value single items such as combi ovens or dishwashers
Rent-Try-Buy in Practice — Real Scenarios
New Venue, Cash-Constrained
A new restaurant needs a $15,000 upright fridge but wants to preserve cash for wages, stock and fit-out costs in the first months of trading. Rather than paying $15,000 upfront, they rent through SilverChef at low weekly payments, treating the cost as an operating expense. After 12 months of profitable trading, they purchase — and receive 75% of their rental payments back as a rebate toward the price.
Trialling New Equipment
A café considering a $20,000 commercial coffee machine is unsure whether the volume justifies the investment. Rent-Try-Buy lets them install and use the machine for 12 months before committing. If it generates the revenue they expected, they purchase. If the model does not suit their workflow, they upgrade or return it — without having sunk $20,000 into a machine that does not work for them.
Scaling Up Mid-Term
A restaurant finds their current oven cannot keep up with growing covers. Rather than waiting until the end of a finance term, Rent-Try-Buy allows them to upgrade to a larger model at any time during the rental period — paying the difference in weekly payments. The business scales its equipment in line with its volume without a large lump-sum outlay.
Full Fit-Out via Lease-to-Keep
A new hotel restaurant requires a commercial dishwasher, combi oven and upright freezer — a combined equipment spend well above $10,000. Lease-to-Keep structures the full fit-out as a single monthly payment plan over four years, with all equipment owned outright at the end of the term.
SilverChef Certified Used Equipment
SilverChef also sells certified used equipment — commercial kitchen equipment returned from previous Rent-Try-Buy customers. Most certified used stock is less than 18 months old, has undergone a six-stage refurbishment process and comes with a warranty. For new operators on tight budgets, certified used equipment through SilverChef offers a cost-effective route to professional-grade equipment at significantly below new prices. Ask the Snowmaster team about availability when discussing your finance options.
Geared Finance — Equipment Finance from $2.35/day
Geared Finance provides straightforward commercial equipment finance — you borrow what you need, make low monthly repayments over a fixed term, and own the equipment outright at the end. There is no rental period and no try-before-you-buy arrangement. Geared Finance is purpose-built for business equipment purchases, with terms from 1 to 5 years, a dedicated lending specialist assigned to your application, and funding possible within 24 hours.
Key features of Geared Finance through Snowmaster:
- Low monthly repayments calculated on the value of your equipment and chosen term
- Terms from 1 to 5 years — choose a term that suits your cashflow
- Apply online in minutes — fast, straightforward application process
- Dedicated lending specialist — a real person manages your application
- You own the equipment from day one
- Funding possible in 24 hours
Geared Finance suits operators who have already decided on their equipment, want a lower daily cost than SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy, and want to own the equipment outright. Visit gearedfinance.com.au for full terms and conditions.
Shift Payments — Buy Now, Pay Later
Shift Payments is a buy-now-pay-later product designed for business purchases. Rather than a daily rental or lease structure, Shift splits your purchase into 20 payments — a first payment followed by 19 regular instalments. It is the fastest route to getting equipment delivered without full upfront payment, and suits businesses that need equipment immediately and want a short, defined repayment schedule.
Shift Payments is best suited to single equipment purchases rather than full fit-outs. For a new dishwasher, a replacement combi oven or a single refrigeration unit, Shift gets the equipment moving quickly with minimal paperwork.
Which Finance Option Is Right for You?
| Your Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Opening a new venue — want flexibility and minimum risk | SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy — try the equipment before committing; 75% rebate if you purchase |
| Full kitchen fit-out, $10,000+ — want to own the equipment | SilverChef Lease-to-Keep — fixed monthly payments over 4 years, yours at the end |
| Replacing a single piece of equipment — want low daily cost and ownership | Geared Finance — low monthly repayments, terms 1–5 years, own it outright |
| Need equipment fast — want a simple split-payment structure | Shift Payments — buy now, pay over 20 instalments |
| Established business, large purchase, need fast approval | SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy or Lease-to-Keep — approval up to $65,000 in under 10 minutes |
Why Finance Commercial Kitchen Equipment?
Preserve Working Capital
The first months of trading are when your business is most financially vulnerable. Finance keeps your cash in the business — available for stock, wages, marketing and the unexpected costs that every new venue encounters — rather than tied up in depreciating equipment.
Get the Right Equipment From Day One
Compromising on equipment to save upfront cash is one of the most common and costly mistakes in a new kitchen fit-out. Undersized or underpowered equipment creates bottlenecks and reliability problems that cost more to fix than the finance would have. Finance lets you specify correctly from the start.
Tax Deductibility
Equipment finance payments are generally deductible as a business expense in Australia. Depending on the finance structure, you may also be able to claim GST credits on payments. Speak with your accountant about the most advantageous structure — chattel mortgage, lease and rental products are treated differently under Australian tax law.
Upgrade When You Need To
SilverChef’s Rent-Try-Buy product includes the ability to upgrade to a bigger or better model at any time during your rental term. For growing businesses, this means your equipment can scale with your volume without the cost and disruption of selling old equipment and purchasing new.
Off-Balance-Sheet Treatment
SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy is treated as an off-balance-sheet liability — the rental obligation does not appear as debt on your balance sheet. For operators who may seek business finance, additional investment or eventually sell the business, this keeps your financial position looking significantly cleaner than a conventional equipment loan would.
Peace of Mind on New Equipment
Traditional finance locks you in for the life of a loan regardless of whether the equipment suits your operation. SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy allows you to return equipment at the end of the 12-month term with no penalty if it does not work for your business. For operators trialling a new equipment category or a specific model for the first time, this removes the risk of being locked into the wrong purchase.
Estimate Your Payments with the SilverChef Calculator
SilverChef provides an online calculator that estimates your weekly rental payments and end-of-term costs based on the equipment value. It is a useful planning tool for budgeting a fit-out or comparing Rent-Try-Buy against outright purchase before you apply. The calculator covers both new and certified used equipment and includes GST and rebate estimates. Note that calculator figures are estimates only — final payments may vary based on delivery, installation and additional charges not included in the equipment price. Access the SilverChef Calculator through the Snowmaster SilverChef finance page.
Before You Apply
- Have your ABN ready — all three Snowmaster finance products require a valid ABN; sole traders, partnerships, companies and trusts all qualify
- Know your total equipment list — finance applications are smoother when you have a clear list of what you need; use Snowmaster’s quote request tool to build your list before applying
- Check your credit position — SilverChef and Geared Finance will perform credit checks; knowing your position before applying avoids surprises
- Talk to your accountant — the most tax-advantageous finance structure depends on your business entity type, GST registration and accounting method; get advice before committing
- Factor in delivery and installation — finance the total cost including delivery, gas or electrical installation and any fit-out modifications; these costs add up and are often overlooked in initial budgets
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can I get approved for equipment finance through Snowmaster?
SilverChef approvals for amounts up to $65,000 take as little as 10 minutes in-store — bring your photo ID, ABN and proof of business address. Geared Finance and Shift Payments also offer fast online applications. For amounts above $65,000 with SilverChef, additional checks apply but the process remains straightforward.
What is the SilverChef 75% rental rebate?
If you rent equipment through SilverChef’s Rent-Try-Buy product and later decide to purchase, SilverChef credits 75% of all rental payments you have made back toward the purchase price. For example, if you have paid $5,000 in rental over 12 months and decide to buy, $3,750 comes off the purchase price. This makes Rent-Try-Buy a genuinely low-risk way to acquire equipment — you are not writing off rental costs if you end up purchasing.
Can I finance a full kitchen fit-out, not just individual equipment?
Yes. SilverChef Lease-to-Keep is designed for fit-outs of $10,000 and over, with monthly payments spread over four years. SilverChef can also finance custom stainless steel fixtures and furniture as part of a complete fit-out package. For very large fit-outs, speak with the Snowmaster team directly — we can help structure a finance package across multiple products and providers.
Is equipment finance tax-deductible in Australia?
SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy payments are 100% tax-deductible as an operating expense — because you are renting rather than purchasing, the full weekly payment is treated as a business expense in the period it is incurred. Rent-Try-Buy is also treated as an off-balance-sheet liability, which means it does not show as debt on your balance sheet. This is worth noting if you ever plan to sell the business or seek additional funding, as it keeps your financial position looking clean. Lease and conventional finance payments are also generally deductible, though the treatment differs. Speak with your accountant before committing to a finance structure to confirm the most advantageous approach for your specific business entity.
What happens if I want to upgrade my equipment during a SilverChef rental term?
SilverChef’s Rent-Try-Buy product allows you to upgrade to a bigger or better model at any time during your rental term — you simply pay the difference in weekly payments. This is particularly useful for growing businesses that start with a conservatively sized piece of equipment and need to scale up as volume increases.
Snowmaster has partnered with SilverChef, Geared Finance and Shift Payments to give Australian hospitality businesses flexible, fast access to the equipment they need. Our team can help you work out which finance option suits your situation before you apply.
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